Sounding whirler toy



Dec. 20, 1955 J. G. A. ROBLES 2,727,333

SOUNDING WHIRLEIR TOY Filed Sept. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Jose G. A. Rob/es.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 20, 1955 J. G. A. ROBLES SOUNDING WHIRLER TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1952 n x Mm M m i w w INVENTOR. Jose 6. A. Rob/es.

A TTORNEYS United States PatentO SOUNDING WHIRLER- TOY JoseG. A. Robles, KansasCity, Mo. Application September 25, 1952, Serial No. 311,363

2 Claims. (CI; 46-52) This invention relates to a sounding whirler toy by which sounds are produced in response to a spinning element, the principal object being to provide a device of this character which is operated by a string alternately unwound from a part of the rotary element responsive to a pull on the string and which is rewound responsive to inertia of the spinning element, thereby providing a continuously operating device as long as the string is kept in motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sounding whirler toy having a spinning element constructed to produce a plurality of notes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive toy that is readily adapted to construction from plastic material.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sounding whirler toy embodying the features of the present invention and showing the manner in which it is operated.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the toy.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a central section through the form of device shown in Fig. 5, the section being taken on the line 66 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a cross section On the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a sounding whirler toy constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a handle 2 carrying a coaxial spindle 3. The spindle 3 may comprise an end having a knurled portion 4 about which the handle 2 may be molded. The opposite end of the spindle has a reduced threaded shank 5 for mounting a washer 6 and a nut 7 to retain a spinning element 8 of the toy.

The spinning element 8 includes a tubular shaft or hub 9 having an axial bore 10 to pass the spindle portion 11 of the spindle 3. The hub 9 has one end 12 bearing on a washer 13 that seats against the end face 14 of the handle in encircling relation with the spindle. Formed on the end 12 are spaced circumferential flanges 15 and 16 to provide a spool portion 17 on which a string or operating cord 18 is adapted to be wound and unwound for operating the spindle element, as later described.

The cord preferably has one end 19 fixed to the hub, and the other end has a knob or button 20 retained thereon by means of a knot 21 that is tied in that end of the cord, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Fixed to the hub and projecting laterally therefrom are spaced crossarms 22 and 23 having ends 2425 and 2627 projecting from opposite sides of the hub to mount sound producing members 28 and 29. Each includes cylindrical walls 30 and 31 having differentially sized openings 32 and 33. The

ends of the respective walls are closed by disks or heads 34 and 35 that are cemented or otherwise secured to provide sound chambers 36 and 37 that are completely closed with exception of the openings 32 and 33. The sound members correspond in length with the space between the arms 22 and 23 and are secured therebetween by fastening devices, such as rivets 38. The sound members, including the huband carrying frame therefor, are retained for rotation on the spindle portion 9 by the nut 7 which is engaged with the threaded shank 5 and'retains the washer 6 in engagement with the outer face of the'crossa-rm 22. If desired; one of'the sound chambers, for example, the sound chamber 37 may be provided with a disk 38' for changing the eflFective length of the sound chamber 37 relatively to the sound chamber 36 to give a differential sound in the respective chambers.

In operating the device as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the cord 18 is wound about the portion 12 of the hub, as shown in Fig. l. The handle 2 of the device is then held in one hand while the knob 20 for the cord 18 is gripped between the fingers of the other hand. A pull is then imparted to the knob 20 while holding the handle 2 of the device in substantially fixed position. Pull on the cord 18 causes the spinning element to rotate about the axis of the spindle 9 until the end of the cord is reached. The pull on the cord is then slacked so that the inertia of the spinning element in a forward direction continues the movement thereof and rewinds the cord on the spool of the hub. When the operation is repeated the spinning element is reversed to continue the action and produce notes or sounds incidental to the air movement relative to the openings 32 and 33.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive is a somewhat simpler construction and is better adapted to construction from plastic material. This form of the invention includes a handle 39 having a coaxial spindle 40 similar to the handle and spindle of the first described form of the invention. Mounted on the spindle is a spinning element 42 which is preferably formed of substantially semispherical sections 43 and 44. Each section includes a tubular hub portion 45 and fixed to the outer end is a substantially semispherical wall portion 46 having integral webs 47 which connect with the hub portions in forming partitions 43 when the sections are brought together and the peripheral edges 49 and 50 connected together by a suitable adhesive to form a unitary structure. The peripheries of the respective sections are provided with notches 51 and 52 forming openings 53 in connection with sound chambers 54, 55 and 56 that are formed between the respective partitions. The openings for the respective sound chambers are of different size so that when the sound element is rotated different sounds or notes are produced. The section 44 is flattened at the pole thereof to cooperate with a flange 57 on a projecting end 58 of the hub portion 45 to provide a spool 59 for winding a cord 60 in the same manner as the cord previously described. The cord 60 also has one end connected with the spool and the other end is provided with a knob or button 61. The spinning element is retained on the spindle 41 by providing the spindle with a flanged head 62 that may be inset within a recess 63 of the section 43, as shown in Fig. 6.

The modified form of the invention is operated in the same manner as the first described form, however, since three compartments are provided an additional tone effect is produced.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A musical toy including a spindle having a handle at one end, a spinning element having a tubular hub rotatable on the spindle and having an annular wall connected at opposite ends to the ends of the tubular hub, said spinning element having a plurality of partitions integrally connected with the tubular hub and extending radially therefrom and integrally connected to said annular wall for forming a plurality of closed sound chambers about said spindle to provide balance in said spinning element, a spool connected with one end of the tubular hub, said annular wall having an opening in connection with each sound chamber, and a cord having one end fixed to the spool and adapted to be wound and unwound from the spool to rotate the spinning element on said spindle.

2. A musical toy including a spindle having a handle at one end, a spinning element having a tubular hub rotatable on the spindle and cylinders on opposite sides of the hub and having ends connected to ends of the tubular hub for forming a plurality of closed sound chambers about said spindle to provide balance in said spinning element, a spool connected with one end of the tubular hub,

said cylinders having an opening in connection with each sound chamber, and a cord having one end fixed to the spool and adapted to be wound and unwound from the spool to rotate the spinning element on said spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 392,504 Elmendorf et al. Nov. 6, 1888 880,322 Newell Feb. 25, 1908 1,144,938 Howard June 29, 1915 1,249,004 Bianchi Dec. 4, 1917 1,562,721 Pierce Nov. 24, 1925 1,802,386 Kline Apr. 28, 1931 2,065,823 Palombo et a1 Dec. 29, 1936 2,154,775 Robles Apr. 18, 1939 

